Asia Miles vs British Airways Club: which loyalty program wins?

We score Asia Miles and British Airways Club on the same five factors — earning rate, redemption value, partner network, ease of use, and point expiry — to help you choose the right program for how you actually spend.

Verdict

Asia Miles is best for Premium-cabin redemption seekers who travel to East, while British Airways Club is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Asia Miles if Anyone wanting to earn through daily spend, and skip British Airways Club if Anyone targeting elite status.

Overall rating

	Asia Miles	British Airways Club
Overall rating	3.9 / 5	4.1 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	5.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Network	5.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Ease of use	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5

Earning structure

Asia Miles	Members earn Asia Miles by flying Cathay Pacific (direct from Riyadh to Hong Kong) and on 15+ oneworld alliance partners including Qatar Airways, British Airways, American, JAL, Qantas, Iberia, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, and Royal Jordanian. Earning rate depends on flight distance, cabin class, and fare type (Economy: 25-100% of flown miles; premium cabins up to 200%). Status Points (separate from miles) are earned on Cathay/partner flights for tier qualification. Members can also transfer points to Asia Miles from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio, 5,000 bonus per 60,000 transfer), Hilton Honors, and Amex Membership Rewards (5:4 ratio, March 2026 update). No Saudi bank issues a Cathay co-branded credit card — the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard is Hong Kong-only.
British Airways Club	Members earn two currencies on BA-marketed flights and oneworld partners: Avios (the spending currency) and Tier Points (the status currency). Avios accrue at 6 per £1 (Blue), 7 (Bronze), 8 (Silver), or 9 (Gold) on eligible BA spending. Tier Points: 1 per £1 of eligible BA spend (fare + extras like seats, baggage), 2 per £1 of Sustainable Aviation Fuel contributions (April 2026 update, max 2,000 tier points/year). Bonus tier points based on fare type (April 2026): flexible fares earn more than standard fares within the same cabin. American Airlines and Iberia flights now earn bonus tier points based on cabin/haul. No Saudi bank issues a BA co-branded card. Avios can also be earned via Marriott Bonvoy transfer (3:1 ratio, 5,000 bonus per 60,000 points).

Redemption structure

Asia Miles	Asia Miles redeem according to three fixed award charts: Cathay Pacific-operated flights (distance-based), airline partners (zone/distance-based), and oneworld multi-carrier awards (for round-the-world tickets). Cathay's Economy short-haul Asia routes from 7,000 miles one-way; Business HKG-Sydney for 58,000; Business HKG-LHR for 88,000; First HKG-LHR for 125,000. Most premium-cabin partner awards deliver outsized value. Fuel surcharges apply on most redemptions and are priced by region. Online booking for Cathay and many oneworld partners; some partner awards require calling Asia Miles. Round-the-world award tickets uniquely available. Members can also redeem for cabin upgrades, extra legroom seats, baggage allowance, hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise.
British Airways Club	Avios redeem for award flights and upgrades on BA, oneworld partners. Reward Flight Saver offers fixed cash + Avios pricing for select short-haul routes. Standard award flights use variable Avios + taxes/fees. BA award redemptions include high carrier-imposed surcharges (especially on premium-cabin long-haul). Members can use Avios for hotel stays (BA Hotels), car rentals, Avios shopping, BA Cabin Crew Wine, and gift experiences. Cash + Avios part-pay available on most BA bookings. Tier Points cannot be redeemed — they only determine status.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Asia Miles	British Airways Club
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	5	4
Top tier	Diamond Exec	Gold
First-tier qualification	300 points	3,500 points
Point expiry	18 months inactivity (reset on earn)	36 months inactivity (reset on earn)

Open in loyaup